Comparison of alveolar and interstitial macrophage activation following exposure of rats to ozone

Abstract : Alveolar macrophages (AM) are frequently studied because they are partly and readily collected by bronchoalveolar lavage (2)(7). Inversely, the functional characteristics of interstitial macrophages (IM), including interactions with other lung cell types under pathophysiological conditions, are essentially unknown because of their poor accessibility. Interstitial macrophages are in direct contact with matrix and other cells in the pulmonary connective tissue, and release of mediators or enzymes by these macrophages may have a greater effectiveness than if released by their sister cells in the alveolar space. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate some aspects of both alveolar and interstitial macrophages collected from rats exposed to ozone.